Gov. Tom Wolf orders all Pennsylvania businesses that aren’t “life-sustaining” to close, will enforce order

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA | March 19, 2020

Gov. Tom Wolf speaks during a press conference, which confirmed the first two presumptive positive cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania and reminded residents that the commonwealth is prepared to respond to community spread of this virus, inside PEMA headquarters on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.

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Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday evening will announce that he is extending his shutdown order to apply to all but “life-sustaining” businesses as the novel coronavirus continues to spread.

The governor had previously asked nonessential businesses such as salons, theaters, and entertainment venues to close. Life-sustaining businesses that may continue physical operations include gas stations, farms, health care facilities, and transit systems, according to the Wolf administration.

Restaurants and bars were previously required to stop all dine-in services.

“Enforcement actions will be taken against non-life sustaining businesses that are out of compliance effective March 21, 2020, at 12:01 a.m.,” according to an order signed by Wolf.

This story will be updated.

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Angela Couloumbis

Investigative Reporter

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